Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Tuesday submitted his resignation after two decades in office, the state-run Algeria Press Agency reported.

"President of the Republic Abdelaziz Bouteflika has officially notified president of the Constitutional Council of his decision to end his term as President of the Republic," said APS.

“This decision which I take in my soul and conscience is destined to contribute to the appeasement of the hearts and minds of my compatriots, to allow them to take Algeria towards a better future to which they legitimately aspire,” APS quoted Bouteflika as saying in his resignation letter.

After the resignation news broke out, scores of Algerians took to the streets to celebrate Bouteflika's departure.

Bouteflika was first elected in 1999 with the backing of the military, and got re-relected in 2004, 2009 and 2014, although often with criticism about the elections' fairness.

Once the Constitutional Council declares the presidency vacant and the resignation is approved by the Parliament's two houses (the People's National Assembly, and the Council of the Nation), the speaker of the Parliament's upper house would act as interim leader for up to 90 days.